Share this article

France is renowned for its train services and also its spectacular and beautiful scenery so one of the best ways to enjoy the country is to combine the two. We've picked out 11 of the best train journeys in France.

"How to spend an unforgettable day? Take the Train des Merveilles," said one commenter on the TripAdvisor site.

Le Train des Merveilles, which literally translates to The Train of Wonders, begins at Nice in the south east of France, and runs inland to the village of Tende, north east of the Riviera resort.

The train ride is distinguished by a succession of viaducts, overhanging canyons and countless tunnels dug through the mountains.

At a cost of €16 for one person and then a further €10 for anybody else in the same group, passengers will pass by Breil-sur-Roya, a small village bordered by the river Roya just a few kilometres from the Italian boarder, the medieval village of Saorge, home of the seventeenth century Saorge monastery, and finally, the medieval fortified city of Tende, where you can visit the Musée des Merveilles, which translates to the Museum of Wonders.

The museum houses a collection that dates back to the Stone Age as well as other historic artefacts from the Mercantour National Park.

Fancy taking a steam train ride along the stunning Baie de Somme? If so, this is the train ride for you.

The 27 kilometer Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme train ride runs along a beautiful bay on the Picardy Coast in the north of France, with the English Channel on one side and salt marshes on the other.

Passengers will discover the area's popular towns of Cayeux-sur-Mer, Saint-Valery-sur-Somme and Le Crotoy, as well as enjoy wonderful views of the diverse landscape.

The train itself will take you back in time with its Belle Époque design and it's even possible to dine on-board on weekends from May to September.

The Vapeur du Trieux train ride in north west region of Brittany takes passengers on a journey through the Valley of Trieux between the towns of Paimpol and Pontrieux.

For about €23, passengers pass by some beautiful scenery, including the Penhoat Forest, the Roche Jagu Castle, and the Frynaudour Bridge.

And there are plenty of activities to take part in at the train's various stops, including mini boat trips along the Trieux River, visiting the Roche Jagu Castle with its 73-hectare park, and attending exhibitions and workshops at the Traou Nez manor on the banks of the Trieux River.

The little known train journey from the city sometimes to referred to as the French Rome, Nimes to Le Grau-du-Roi, a resort on the French Mediterranean coast, is the perfect way to experience some of the best elements of the south of France all from the comfort of your carriage.

Make sure you time your journey well and you'll see luscious vineyards, the medieval city walls of Aigues-Mortes and the stunning natural landscape of the Camargue.

A train passing by the medieval city walls of Aigues-Mortes. Photo: Florian Pépellin/Wikicommons

Le Train Rouge or the Red Train is 100 years old and connects the Mediterranean with the Pyrenees along a route that stretches from the town of Axat in the southern Occitanie region of France with Rivesaltes in the Pyrenees.

The route comes with commentary and takes in an extraordinary range of landscapes, including vineyards, valleys, deserts, and forests.

Passengers can also choose to visit the villages on the route, including the picturesque Espira de l'Agly, Cases-de-Pène, Estagel and Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet.

The Ligne de Cerdagne is a triumph of engineering. Built in 1903 the gauge railway serves some of the high cantons of the Pyrenees in the high Cerdagne valley.

The line usually referred to as the Train Jaune (Yellow Line) is 63 kilometres long and climbs to 1,593 metres at Bolquère-Eyne – the highest railway station in France.

The line serves 22 stations and there are 19 tunnels and two bridges along the way. Take the train while you can as its future is in doubt.

The views aren't bad either. The train traverses many bridges and viaducts and offers dramatic views of national parks and historic walled cities, best viewed from the open-air carriages. Tickets can be bought on the SNCF website.